Nuclear Power, Ole: Will Spain Extend Nuclear Plant Life?

The Spanish government, which is opposed to building new nuclear power plants, will likely extend the operating life of its oldest nuclear reactor for another ten years, a former government advisor says.

The reason? Simple math. “If you close Garona, you would need to spend 500 million euros to 1 billion euros on a gas-fired plant that contaminates the atmosphere and depends on Algeria for its gas supply,” former nuclear adviser Manuel Lozano told Bloomberg.

The debate over whether to keep the plant running echoes what’s going on around the world. Meeting demand for affordable, clean electricity doesn’t leave too many options…